Saturday, April 02, 2005

Yesterday BART posted a preliminary budget for 2006. The budget proposes an expected 3.7% fare increase. The current proposal does not include any new charges to park at BART parking lots, but at a public hearing on April 28, the BART board will consider adding such charges at six unnamed stations. The preliminary budget states: "New Paid Parking Programs under consideration include: Single Day Reserved and Reserved Parking Area Expansion/Daily Paid Parking at six stations/West Bay Long Term/Airport Parking."

BART staff is projecting the system will run a deficit of $30.4 million in Fiscal Year 2006. Currently, to close that gap, staff is proposing eliminating 115 positions, half of which are currently vacant. No reduction in train frequency is proposed except perhaps in the West Bay "depending upon the outcome of discussions with SamTrans," but train lengths may be shortened according to BART load factor policies.

In addition to the public hearing April 28, BART will discuss the budget during its administrative committee meeting on April 14. It will consider approving revenue enhancements, such as parking charges, on May 12. Finally, on June 9, the board will adopt the final budget.